The village chief's wife, Liang Yue Shui, and Fu Da Qiang's wife, Wang Su Zhen, also burst into tears...
"Wuwu, Sweet Baby has been smart and clever since she was little, a flawless good girl. Now she's finally made it, wuwu!~"
"That's right, Sweet Baby is blessed with endless fortune, favored by heaven. Even if the Emperor doesn't bestow the title of county princess upon her, Sweet Baby can become a golden phoenix on her own..."
Fu Da Qiang, annoyed by the two women's clamor, immediately reprimanded, "What are you crying for? Sweet Baby is now the County Princess of Dongping. What are you two wailing about?"
The village chief also nudged Liang Yue Shui and said irritably, "Go home, you embarrassing things..."
In fact, the Yun elders and everyone else were proud and happy for Sweet Baby, they just didn't cry out loud like Wang Su Zhen and the other two.
Most of the villagers were simple and kind. Even their congratulations were genuine, without a trace of falsehood...
Seeing Xiao Xi Tian kneeling on the ground, her big eyes sparkling, Eunuch Zhao held the imperial decree in both hands and presented it to her, smiling slightly, "County Princess, please receive the decree!~"
Xiao Jin Heng also hurried over, picked up the imperial decree, and stuffed it into Xiao Xi Tian's hand, "Merit should be rewarded. This is all you deserve, take it..."
Xiao Xi Tian twitched the corner of her mouth, feeling as if she were dreaming, and slowly got up.
So, she was now the County Princess of Dongping?
She knew where Dongping was. It was very close to the prefectural city, with a large population and a prosperous economy...
The Emperor specially chose the rich land of Dongping to grant her a title, likely because he didn't want Xiao Xi Tian to suffer in the village in the future.
It was known that in the Great Liang Kingdom, only women of the imperial lineage could be enfeoffed as county princesses.
Xiao Xi Tian, born in the countryside and of an external surname, had no connection to the royal family at all. Yet, the Emperor still granted her the status of an imperial daughter of an external surname...
This was probably a decision made under great pressure.
Han Chi Jiao and Xiao Xin Ling stood to the side, giggling foolishly, not knowing how to congratulate Sweet Baby...
"See? Sweet Baby is even more noble than you. She now has her own mansion, servants, and maids, and is protected by guards when she goes out!~" Xiao Xin Ling glanced at Han Chi Jiao and pouted, "Unlike some people who claim to be barbarian princesses but don't even have a servant by their side, staying at the old Yun family's place all day. Such thick skin, hmph!~"
Han Chi Jiao: "......"
You crazy girl, did you take the wrong medicine today?
"Then I'm still better than you!" Han Chi Jiao rolled her eyes and sneered, "I wonder who it is that steals other people's salted goose eggs from the kitchen every day. A princess of a kingdom, yet her behavior is so vulgar and unbearable. Tsk tsk, I'm too embarrassed to criticize you..."
Xiao Xin Ling: "???"
So what if I stole salted goose eggs? Didn't you also steal braised pork knuckles?
"Eunuch Zhao, you must be tired from the journey. Please come in and have some hot water..." Old Man Yun said with a smile.
Zhao Gui Hua and Jin Huai Hua also showed their good sense by running to the kitchen to boil water and make tea, bringing out the family's large pastries and small twists to entertain the guests.
The enthusiastic villagers all went home, bringing eggs or dried goods to congratulate the old Yun family...
From now on, who would dare to shout nonsense at the Yun family's doorstep? A little county princess lived here.
Fu Xiao Qiang and Du Jin Qiang, a few half-grown boys, ran over and pulled Xiao Xi Tian aside, examining her from head to toe.
"Sweet Baby, are you going to leave Da Shui Village and live in some county from now on?" Fu Xiao Qiang asked anxiously.
He had decided that if Sweet Baby left Da Shui Village, he would follow her. After all, he could support himself by making tofu or something...
Du Jin Qiang looked at the imperial decree in Xiao Xi Tian's hand, feeling a little flustered, "Sweet Baby, from now on, when I see you, will I have to kowtow and bow? I heard that the imperial family has many rules, and a slight mistake can lead to beheading. Sweet Baby, you won't behead me, will you?"
Xiao Jin Heng, standing nearby: "......"
Although the imperial rules were many, they were not so cruel as to behead someone for not bowing.
Xiao Xi Tian couldn't hold back her laughter and patted Du Jin Qiang on the shoulder, "Brother Jin Qiang, no beheading, don't worry!~"
Alas, what were these half-grown boys thinking about all day, talking about beheading at every turn, it sounded rather frightening...
"Then, then will Sweet Baby move away?" Fu Xiao Qiang lowered his head, looking reluctant.
Before Xiao Xi Tian could answer, Xiao Jin Heng shot him a sideways glance, "What, the little village girl is moving away, and you still want to follow her?"
Upon hearing this, Fu Xiao Qiang scratched his head, "Of course, we'll follow. Sweet Baby is so cute, as long as I stay by her side, I can continue to have good luck..."
Xiao Jin Heng almost spat blood upon hearing this. So, you're treating the little village girl as a lucky charm.
This wouldn't do. What if these village boys grew up and stuck to the little village girl?
Therefore, the priority was to send them away in advance...
Xiao Jin Heng pondered for a moment in his heart, then a flash of inspiration struck him, and he came up with a plan.
Just wait. Any boy who competed with him for the little village girl would be thrown to the ends of the earth.
Jin Xiao Lou had originally gone to help out at the shop in the county town. As soon as he heard that his sister Xi Tian had been enfeoffed as a county princess, he rushed back without delay...
"Sister Xi Tian, the county princesses of your Great Liang Kingdom are equivalent to the princesses of our country. Congratulations, congratulations!~" Jin Xiao Lou said with a bright smile.
Xiao Xi Tian's cheeks turned slightly red from the praise, and she smiled, "It's just a title, it's not that exaggerated!"
"Little village girl, you're wrong!" Xiao Jin Heng raised his eyebrows and took Xiao Xi Tian's hand, "As far as I know, my father has never enfeoffed a county princess to a woman of an external surname. You are the first. Although a county princess is just a rank and a title, the status she possesses is far higher than that of ordinary people. In the future, local officials and even first-rank officials in the court will have to respectfully bow and salute when they see the little village girl..."
He knew that his father would not treat the little village girl unfairly.
Jin Xiao Lou let out an "oh," feeling overjoyed in his heart and genuinely happy for his sister Xi Tian.
The sky was still early, and after finishing their work in the fields, the villagers came to the old Yun family to offer congratulations.
In just a moment, the main hall and kitchen of the Yun family were piled high with various gifts, all sent by the villagers...
Eggs, white flour, dried fish, dried meat, dried mushrooms, cured meat, cured sausage, pickled cabbage. Whatever the family had, they sent it to the old Yun family. In any case, Gu Shi and Old Man Yun understood the villagers' intentions...
With such great joy, the old Yun family naturally had to host a banquet.
So, that afternoon, Gu Shi began to make arrangements.